Entertainment TV Austin Butler Is a WWII Bomber in Epic First Teaser for Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's Masters of the Air "First time in the sawmill, boys. Let’s rack ‘em up and knock ‘em down," Butler says over a scene of soldiers reloading bullets and aircrafts in flight By Esther Kang Esther Kang Esther Kang is a writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023 and has previously worked for publications like TMZ and TooFab. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 9, 2023 09:00AM EST Close Austin Butler is taking flight in his newest role on Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air. According to the show’s official synopsis, the historical drama follows the “men of the 100th Bomb Group,” also known as the “Bloody Hundredth” as they perform “perilous bombing raids” over Nazi Germany during World War II. The men face terrible conditions, including frigid temperatures and lack of oxygen, while experiencing the horrors of war. The Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks-led series portrays the “psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich.” Shot in locations ranging from the idyllic rolling hills of southeast England to the “harsh deprivations of a German Prisoner of War Camp,” many soldiers were shot down, captured, wounded, and “some were lucky enough to make it home.” Austin Butler in 'Masters of the Air'. Apple TV+ Austin Butler Says He Doesn't Think He Still Talks Like Elvis, but 'I'm Sure There's Pieces of Him in My DNA' The teaser begins with sounds of distant gunfire and bombs going off. Butler, who takes on the role of Major Gale Cleven a.k.a Buck, says with awe in his voice: “When you look at it, and don’t pay attention to what’s really going on it’s kind of beautiful.” Like twisted forms of fireworks, Buck and his regime watch as smoke, bullets and flashes from impact light up the night sky. The scene shifts to a shot of the fighter pilots training for war, as soldiers load their planes and head for the skies, Major Crosby (Anthony Boyle) recites, “We came from every corner of the country with a common purpose: to bring the war to Hitler’s doorstep.” 'Masters of the Air'. Apple TV+ Austin Butler Says Tom Hanks Was Concerned for His 'Mental Health' After 'Elvis' Role “These daylight missions,” Buck sighs as scenes of soldiers running towards bomb shelters, loading missiles and dodging fire in the skies play. “They’re suicide.” “Then what’s the move?” Major John Egan (Callum Turner) asks to which Buck responds, “We lead our boys through it.” The teaser shows flashes of planes going down and soldiers howling. Another scene features a man carrying a woman out of a building turned to rubble. As men laugh and embrace in camaraderie, more run from bombs and bullets. 'Masters of the Air'. Apple TV+ Austin Butler Says He's 'Getting Rid of' Elvis Presley Accent, 'Probably Damaged' Vocal Cords “We’re getting through this, even if the odds are stacked against us,” Egan continues, as a soldier falls from the sky and men below are peppered with gunfire. “First time in the sawmill, boys,” Buck says over a scene of aircrafts in flight. “Let’s rack ‘em up and knock ‘em down.” 'Masters of the Air'. Apple TV+ Alongside Spielberg and Hanks, Gary Goetzman will executive produce the series and include a star studded cast led by Butler, Turner, Boyle, Nate Mann, Rafferty Law, Barry Keoghan, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook and Ncuti Gatwa. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Masters of the Air will premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday, Jan. 26 with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode every week.